Chapter Summaries

Key events

• Ao Yue struggles to find a way for Xuanyuan to match Chi You, whose strength is nearly that of a Two-Corpse Slash Quasi-Saint. He cannot become Human Emperor himself, since he already rules the Heavenly Court and would be confined to Fire Cloud Cave. Frustrated, he wonders whether he may have to resort to another, unspecified plan.
• While the Iron-Eating Beasts move Gungun’s books back to the Heavenly Emperor Palace, Ao Yue discovers the collection includes both demon magic and an oddly specific cookbook. The sight briefly distracts him from his problem.
• In the Nine Li Tribe, Nine Li announces that he has come on Yuanshi’s orders to take Chi You as his disciple. Chi You privately doubts the match, believing he is already stronger than Nine Li.
• In the Youxiong Tribe, Guang Chengzi appears to take twelve-year-old Xuanyuan as his disciple. Xuanyuan challenges his qualifications, citing his extraordinary birth and future as Human Emperor.
• Xuanyuan compares Guang Chengzi’s offer with Yinglong’s promises to serve as his mount: travel, control over weather, access to the Heavenly Court, and the Ten-Thousand Dragon Armor. Guang Chengzi is increasingly flustered and ultimately has no answer.

Character developments and interactions

• Ao Yue is overwhelmed by the imbalance between Chi You and Xuanyuan and remains undecided, hinting at a drastic alternative.
• Xuanyuan displays confidence, sharp judgment, and an imperial bearing even as a child. Rather than accept a prestigious title at face value, he demands proof of what Guang Chengzi can offer.
• Guang Chengzi arrives proudly but is undermined by Xuanyuan’s questions and Yinglong’s presence. His confidence collapses into embarrassment.
• Yinglong calmly reinforces Xuanyuan’s expectations by offering himself as a mount and promising substantial service and treasure.
• Chi You is skeptical of Nine Li as a teacher, setting up tension in their mentor-student relationship.

Significant themes

• Power and suitability: A teacher’s or ruler’s title matters less than demonstrated ability.
• Rivalry and imbalance: Chi You’s immense strength creates a serious challenge for Xuanyuan’s future.
• Pride versus humility: Guang Chengzi’s status as a Saint’s disciple proves insufficient when tested against practical promises.
• Destiny and agency: Xuanyuan’s foretold greatness shapes expectations, but he actively evaluates those who seek to guide him.

Key plot points and events

• Xuanyuan’s doubts nearly prevent Guang Chengzi from taking him as a disciple. Yinglong smooths things over by explaining that Guang Chengzi is more skilled in the sword Dao, and Xuanyuan accepts him as his teacher specifically to learn swordsmanship. Guang Chengzi names him his eldest disciple.
• In the Netherworld, Gungun and Soaring Serpent watch the encounter. Soaring Serpent argues that Xuanyuan’s questioning suggests he may look down on anyone weaker than Yinglong. He compares this trait to the commanding nature of Demon Emperors Dijun and Taiyi, which could help unify the divided Human Race. Gungun is unsure but agrees that actions matter more than assumptions.
• Six years later, Xuanyuan is eighteen. Yi, chief of the Youxiong Tribe, announces that Xuanyuan should marry. Eight Iron-Eating Beasts have brought a Witch-Race woman as his bride, and Yi orders the tribe to prepare for the wedding with great care.

Character developments

• Xuanyuan is shown as confident and demanding, judging Guang Chengzi by his abilities before agreeing to learn from him. His attitude raises questions about whether he is merely discerning or already becoming proud and dismissive.
• Guang Chengzi struggles to secure Xuanyuan as a disciple, briefly salvages his pride through Yinglong’s praise of his sword skill, and ultimately accepts Xuanyuan as his eldest student.
• Gungun remains protective of Xuanyuan, resisting Soaring Serpent’s negative interpretation while acknowledging the possibility that forceful leadership may suit the Human Race’s needs.
• Soaring Serpent is blunt and suspicious of Xuanyuan’s attitude, but recognizes that traits resembling Dijun and Taiyi’s authority could be useful in unifying humanity.

Significant themes

• Leadership and ambition: Xuanyuan’s confidence may signal arrogance, but the same forceful disposition could help unite divided tribes.
• Judging character: The discussion emphasizes the tension between judging someone’s inner motives and evaluating their actions.
• Status and dignity: Guang Chengzi’s difficulty becoming Xuanyuan’s teacher highlights the importance of reputation and pride.
• Political and cultural ties: Xuanyuan’s marriage to a Witch-Race woman reflects longstanding intermarriage between humans and witches and the significance of alliances.

Character interactions

• Yinglong mediates between Xuanyuan and Guang Chengzi, guiding the boy toward accepting the master he initially doubts.
• Gungun and Soaring Serpent debate whether Xuanyuan’s standards indicate arrogance or the makings of a strong unifier; their conversation then turns to entertainment in the Netherworld.
• Yi informs the elders of the arranged marriage, and they respond solemnly, recognizing the importance of the Witch-Race bride and the Iron-Eating Beasts’ involvement.

Key plot points and events

• Xuanyuan marries Great Shaman Jiu Feng, with Yi presiding and Yinglong and Guang Chengzi as witnesses. Guang Chengzi is alarmed, suspecting the marriage may win Xuanyuan support from the Witch Race.
• Yuanshi tells Guang Chengzi that Jiu Feng’s marriage does not mean the Witch Race will back Xuanyuan. He reveals that Jiu Feng had spent years disguised as Luozu, a woman of the Xiling Tribe, visiting Xuanyuan, giving him silk, and teaching people to raise silkworms.
• After Jiu Feng’s marriage, the Xiling Tribe is transformed into Witch-Race members and burned, erasing it.
• Gungun learns that Chi You has mastered the early stages of the Jade Clarity Profound Heaven Secret Art and is preparing to challenge Shennong.
• Chi You proclaims Shennong unfit to rule, names himself the new Human Sovereign, and declares war on the Lieshan Tribe. His army marches toward Chen Capital.

Character developments and interactions

• Guang Chengzi is troubled by the political implications of Xuanyuan’s marriage and by his failure to recognize Jiu Feng’s disguise. Yuanshi directs him to keep supporting Xuanyuan and watch Yinglong, whom he regards as a major threat to Chi You.
• Yinglong supports Xuanyuan and tries to steer Guang Chengzi away from worrying about the marriage’s political consequences.
• Jiu Feng is revealed to have lived as Luozu for years before marrying Xuanyuan. Gungun dismisses the idea that she truly fell in love with him, though the story does not settle her feelings.
• Chi You, encouraged by Nine Li, moves from preparation to open rebellion, rallying the Witch-Humans behind his claim to leadership.
• Gungun treats the coming conflict as the start of the “real show,” while Mu Yu reports developments from the human world.

Significant themes

• Power and political legitimacy: Xuanyuan’s marriage and Chi You’s challenge both affect the contest to lead humanity.
• Disguise and hidden influence: Jiu Feng’s long-lived Luozu identity shows how events have been shaped behind the scenes.
• Rivalry and looming conflict: Chi You’s declaration of war turns the succession struggle into an imminent military confrontation.

Plot points

• While Shennong is away tasting herbs, the Nine Li Tribe rebels under Chi You, rejects Shennong’s authority, and marches on Chen Capital.
• Xuandu urges Shennong to return and defend the capital. Shennong feels unworthy of ruling and reluctant to wage war, but accepts that he must protect the Human Race until a successor is agreed upon.
• Shennong returns to Chen Capital and calls on the tribes to reinforce it.
• In the Youxiong Tribe, Chief Yi consults his elders and Xuanyuan about whether to answer the call. Xuanyuan argues that Shennong’s failures have disqualified him and urges Yi to claim the Human Sovereign’s position.
• Persuaded by Xuanyuan and the elders, Yi rejects Shennong’s authority, declares himself Human Sovereign, and appoints Xuanyuan supreme general to unite the tribes.
• The news reaches Chen Capital, leaving the Human Race divided among three rival sovereigns: Shennong, Chi You, and Yi. Other tribes must choose a side or assert independence.

Character developments and interactions

• Shennong moves from anger at Chi You’s rebellion to resignation, then accepts his duty to defend the people despite doubting his own worth. Xuandu presses him to act and supports his decision.
• Xuandu is anxious about Shennong’s prospects and frustrated by the crisis, but remains committed to guiding him. The Youxiong rebellion also troubles him because he comes from that tribe.
• Xuanyuan emerges as an ambitious political and military leader. He persuades Yi and the elders to abandon Shennong and pursue rule for Youxiong.
• Yi hesitates over the elders’ competing advice, then yields to the faction supporting his elevation and commits the tribe to rebellion.
• Jiu Feng watches Yi’s decision in silence.

Significant themes

• Legitimacy and succession: Shennong’s authority is challenged, and competing claims to rule threaten to splinter the Human Race.
• Duty versus personal doubt: Shennong would rather avoid war, but feels responsible for protecting his people.
• Ambition and political maneuvering: Xuanyuan turns dissatisfaction with Shennong into support for Youxiong’s own claim to power.
• Unity versus fragmentation: The chapter marks the Human Race’s return to tribal conflict, setting the stage for the struggle between Xuanyuan and Chi You at Zhuolu.

Key plot points and events

• The Human Race draws increased attention after Zhunti exposes the Demon Race’s role in the conflict between humans and dragons.
• At Banquan, Chi You leads the Witch-Human army against Shennong and demands that he surrender his position as Human Sovereign. Shennong argues that a successor must be chosen by the tribal chiefs, not seized by force.
• Xuandu intervenes, freezing Chi Ye before capturing him with Taishang’s Purple-Gold Red Gourd. Chi You attacks Xuandu, but the Yellow Mystic Tower protects him, while Xuandu’s Eight Sceneries Palace Lamp drives Chi You back.
• Nine Li counters Xuandu’s weapons with the Apricot-Yellow Banner and blocks him from joining the wider battle. The two exchange barbed versions of the same claim that their protective treasures make them invulnerable to each other; Nine Li then transforms into his Great Shaman True Form.
• With the Witch-Human army overwhelming Shennong’s forces, Zhen Yuanzi intervenes to prevent Chi You from capturing Shennong.
• Shennong’s side suffers a crushing defeat and retreats from Chen Capital; the Lieshan Tribe relocates. Chi You’s prestige rises across the Human Race.

Character developments and interactions

• Shennong remains committed to legitimate, collective succession, even while his authority and army are badly weakened.
• Chi You presents himself as a forceful challenger to Shennong and gains standing through military victory.
• Xuandu displays formidable magical resources but is kept from turning the battle by Nine Li, whose own protective treasure and transformation make him a strong opponent.
• Nine Li advises Chi You on how to counter Xuandu’s artifacts and personally holds him off.
• Zhen Yuanzi, troubled by Shennong’s plight, steps in at the critical moment, though he cannot prevent the defeat.

Significant themes

• Legitimate rule versus power seized by force: Shennong insists sovereignty should be decided jointly by tribal leaders, while Chi You pursues it through arms.
• The cost of political conflict: Shennong’s defeat brings displacement and further instability for the Human Race.
• Power and intervention: Magical artifacts shape the duel, while outside intervention prevents Shennong’s capture but cannot reverse the broader outcome.

Key plot points and events

• Shennong’s defeat by Chi You weakens his standing among the Human tribes, which increasingly ignore his commands. The protagonist’s fortune, tied to Shennong, continues to dwindle.
• Laozi sends Golden Horn and Silver Horn to the Netherworld with gourds of Six Harmonies and Nine-Turn Golden Pills and asks them to bring Gungun to Shouyang Mountain.
• While relaxing in his bath, Gungun receives a system offer to buy a Yellow Central Plum spiritual root for nine million points. He refuses to pay, even after the system suggests selling his blood or the Pure World White Lotus.
• The system unexpectedly rewards his refusal with a Yellow Central Plum. Gungun eagerly eats it, delighted by its taste and spiritual energy.
• When Laozi’s attendants arrive, Gungun initially claims to be gravely injured. But after hearing they have brought pills, he rushes to meet them, accepts the gourds, and travels with them to Shouyang Mountain—while pretending to be weak.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun remains extravagantly lazy and unwilling to spend resources, yet his refusal brings him the very fruit he wanted. His enthusiasm for the Golden Pills briefly overrides his supposed illness.
• Laozi acts through his attendants, using valuable pills to summon Gungun.
• Golden Horn and Silver Horn are puzzled by Gungun’s sudden change from bedridden invalid to eager traveler.
• The system both mocks Gungun’s laziness and rewards it, turning his refusal into an unexpected windfall.

Significant themes

• Laziness rewarded: Gungun’s refusal to make an effort paradoxically earns him the Yellow Central Plum.
• Greed tempered by thrift: He wants rare treasures but will not sacrifice valuable possessions to obtain them.
• Comedic hypocrisy: Gungun claims to be too injured to receive visitors, then springs into action at the mention of pills.

Plot points and events

• Gungun is genuinely weakened because it sold a drop of its essence blood to the system to afford a Yellow Central Plum spirit root. It accepts Laozi’s summons despite its condition, both out of gratitude and because it expects the meeting to concern Shennong’s defeat by Chi You.
• Gungun is also trying to avoid being drawn into Luo Hou’s scheme to help Chi You become Human Emperor, which could endanger the Human Race.
• From Mount Kunlun, Haotian spots Gungun’s apparent injury in the Haotian Mirror and sees a chance to strike. He urges Emperor Donghua to attack, offering the Haotian Pagoda and a hidden, extremely evil being—roughly as strong as a One-Corpse Quasi-Saint—to assist him.
• Haotian appeals to Donghua’s resentment over his lost standing and his desire to regain power. Donghua agrees to attack Gungun, hoping to weaken it rather than kill it outright, and eventually reclaim the Heavenly Emperor’s position.
• After Donghua leaves, Yaochi warns that Gungun’s Pure World White Lotus makes victory unlikely and that the attack will expose Haotian as the instigator, earning him enemies. Haotian admits he benefits whether Donghua succeeds or fails: success weakens Gungun, while failure could create discord between Gungun and the Queen Mother of the West.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun is pragmatic and conflicted: it sacrifices its own health for a rare spirit root, but remains determined not to assist a plan that could corrupt humanity.
• Donghua moves from caution to action, driven by old grievances and ambition despite recognizing the risks.
• Haotian reveals himself as a calculating schemer, willing to use Donghua as a pawn and exploit either outcome.
• Yaochi serves as the voice of caution, pointing out the political consequences Haotian is dismissing.

Significant themes

• Self-interest and sacrifice: Gungun accepts bodily harm for a coveted reward, while Donghua risks himself for power and revenge.
• Manipulation and ambition: Haotian turns Donghua’s resentment into a weapon while concealing his own motives.
• Political consequences: Even a failed attack may reshape alliances and deepen rivalries.
• Moral responsibility: Gungun refuses to advance a plan that could bring lasting harm to the Human Race.

Concise Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Haotian privately accepts the risk of his plan: he hopes his master will not abandon him, though using the Haotian Pagoda may expose his involvement. Jade Pool remains worried, and Haotian offers only reassurance.
• On the way to Shouyang Mountain, Gungun travels in a litter so Donghua can see how badly wounded it is. It senses an ambush and warns Laozi’s attendants, Golden Horn and Silver Horn, just before Donghua attacks. Gungun blocks the sword strike.
• Donghua claims he has come to settle an old grievance. Gungun counters that it once helped save him and that Donghua had declared their debts settled. They fight: Gungun defeats him and shatters his sword, but its own weakened condition is apparent.
• Donghua releases Haotian’s evil corpse from the Haotian Pagoda, expecting to use it against Gungun. The corpse rejects the name Haotian and calls itself Kuigang.
• Kuigang immediately kills Donghua, who had assumed they were allies, and takes the Pagoda. He then attacks Gungun, declaring his ambition to rule the Primordial World.
• Gungun first orders the litter-bearers to flee, then pushes Golden Horn, Silver Horn, and the Witches out of danger. It confronts Kuigang with the Yin-Yang Grinding Bamboo, is struck by the Pagoda, and falls apparently gravely wounded.
• As Kuigang objects to being called Haotian, a sacred voice interrupts. A Daoist bearing the Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree arrives with Saint Jieyin, while the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk appears behind Kuigang. The chapter ends as their intervention begins.

Character developments

• Haotian is committed to gambling on his plan despite uncertainty and the risk of exposure.
• Gungun is weakened but still calculating and protective, putting its companions’ safety ahead of its own. Its apparent helplessness may be misleading.
• Donghua is driven by resentment and overconfidence; releasing Kuigang backfires catastrophically.
• Kuigang emerges as an independent, ruthless personality who despises Haotian and openly seeks power. He kills Donghua without hesitation.
• Golden Horn and Silver Horn are shaken by the violence and realize how vulnerable they are, though they follow Gungun when danger strikes.

Significant themes

• Consequences of revenge and miscalculation: Donghua’s attempt to punish Gungun unleashes a threat that kills him instead.
• Hidden identities and divided selves: Kuigang rejects his connection to Haotian and asserts his own identity and ambition.
• Sacrifice and protection: Gungun risks itself to shield its companions.
• Appearance versus reality: Gungun seems near defeat, but its true strength and motives remain uncertain.

Character interactions

• Haotian tries to calm Jade Pool while concealing the full danger of his scheme.
• Gungun and Donghua argue over the history of their supposed karmic debt before fighting.
• Kuigang turns on Donghua the moment Donghua tries to claim common cause against Gungun.
• Gungun orders its attendants to flee, then physically separates them from the incoming attack.
• The sudden arrival of Jieyin and another Daoist—and the appearance of the Reincarnation Disk—interrupt Kuigang’s assault, setting up a larger confrontation.

Key plot points and events

• Houtu, Jieyin, and Zhunti destroy Kuigang, Haotian’s evil corpse, after discovering it carries the Demon Realm’s malevolent will. Zhunti keeps the Haotian Pagoda, while Houtu mocks the Mystic Gate over Haotian’s disgrace.
• In Zixiao Palace, Hongjun reacts grimly to Haotian’s name. Meanwhile, Luo Hou secretly recovers the remnant of the evil will and celebrates the dilemma Haotian’s actions have created for Hongjun.
• Houtu finds Gungun by a stream and checks its injuries. Gungun denies being seriously hurt by Kuigang, attributing its weakness to earlier heavenly lightning.
• Jieyin and Zhunti arrive and demand punishment for Haotian, including the surrender of his treasures and Heavenly Venerable position. The other Saints soon join them.
• Yuanshi gives Gungun three lights divine water, restoring its spirits. Laozi explains that Hongjun has authorized him to handle the matter.
• The Saints agree that Haotian should be struck with the Heavenly Blade Slash, demoted to a mortal, and made to endure a hundred reincarnations. His sword and mirror will be placed in Gungun’s custody for now; Zhunti already holds the pagoda.
• Gungun asks to enforce the sentence personally and fight Haotian to settle their grudge. Though Tongtian teases it about protecting its dignity, Gungun admits it wants to restore its reputation before the wider world. It confidently accepts the challenge despite Haotian’s greater cultivation.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun shifts from feigning—or at least emphasizing—weakness to asserting its authority as Heavenly Emperor. It is deferential before the Saints but cares about public respect, and now sees a chance to confront Haotian directly.
• Houtu is protective of Gungun and angered by what she initially believes was a severe injury. She agrees to the proposed punishment and recognizes Hongjun’s decision to delegate authority.
• Zhunti eagerly seeks Haotian’s treasures, prompting Jieyin to correct his demands and Laozi to clarify that the relics are only temporarily assigned.
• Tongtian teases Gungun about its dignity but ultimately allows it to act. Yuanshi takes a stern, law-minded approach, while Laozi guides the Saints toward a measured sentence.
• Hongjun and Luo Hou remain absent from the gathering but frame the larger conflict: Hongjun must manage the consequences of Haotian’s misconduct, while Luo Hou relishes the political dilemma.

Significant themes

• Justice and authority: The Saints balance established heavenly law against Haotian’s high status and Hongjun’s appointment.
• Reputation and dignity: Gungun’s desire to challenge Haotian is partly about public standing, even as it remains humble before the Saints.
• Political maneuvering: The dispute over Haotian’s office and treasures, and Luo Hou’s gloating, show how personal crimes can destabilize larger powers.
• Humor amid divine affairs: Zhunti’s acquisitiveness and Gungun’s self-aware humility undercut the chapter’s otherwise solemn celestial proceedings.

Plot points and events

• Gungun successfully severs its Corpse of Evil, becoming a Quasi-Saint who has severed two corpses. The breakthrough strengthens its magic power, spirit, and body, and its roar shakes the Central Wilderness.
• The newly severed black-bear corpse greets Gungun and the Saints. Gungun gives it the Heaven-Earth Bowl to use.
• Gungun’s breakthrough alarms the major powers: Bai Ze fears the Heavenly Court will be harder to reclaim; Zhen Yuanzi sees its supremacy becoming more secure; Ao Yue plans a banquet and reflects on Xuanyuan; Soaring Serpent is frustrated by Gungun’s progress but is summoned by Nuwa before he can begin a long retreat.
• Gungun heads to Qilin Cliff to carry out the Saints’ sentence against Haotian. The judgment accuses Haotian of grave crimes, including conspiring with Donghua and the Demon Realm, and orders heavenly-blade punishment and a hundred lifetimes of human reincarnation.
• Gungun removes the restrictions holding Haotian and Jade Pool. Haotian, furious and convinced Gungun has framed him, comes out to fight. Jade Pool tries to stop him, but he ignores her.
• Haotian attacks with the Haotian Sword. Though initially evenly matched, he uses an illusion to strike from behind. Gungun breaks the illusion with a roar, then turns and bites the sword. The chapter ends as the Haotian Sword begins to crack.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun grows more powerful but remains lazy and pragmatic. It seeks to punish Haotian publicly not simply for revenge, but to deter the Demon Race and others from challenging the Heavenly Court. It is confident enough to fight Haotian without weapons.
• Haotian shifts from imprisoned resentment to open defiance. Believing there is no hope of rescue, he seizes Gungun’s invitation to attack and vents his anger.
• Jade Pool remains loyal to Haotian and tries to restrain him, but cannot prevent the confrontation.
• Soaring Serpent is comically envious of Gungun’s rapid advancement and longs to catch up, yet promptly obeys Nuwa’s summons.
• Bai Ze, Zhen Yuanzi, and Ao Yue each recognize the political consequences of Gungun’s new strength.

Significant themes

• Power and political legitimacy: Gungun’s breakthrough strengthens the Heavenly Court’s authority and discourages rivals.
• Strength versus appearances: Haotian’s powerful sword and clever illusion prove insufficient against Gungun’s exceptional physical toughness.
• Ambition, envy, and obedience: Soaring Serpent’s frustration contrasts with his continued submission to Nuwa’s command.
• Justice and self-interest: Gungun presents the punishment as lawful enforcement, while also acknowledging its strategic value.

Key plot points and events

• Gungun overwhelms Haotian, biting through the Haotian Sword and knocking him away. When Yaochi intervenes with the Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner, Gungun breaks through its clouds and kicks her, though the banner protects her.
• Haotian traps Gungun with the Haotian Mirror and urges Yaochi to kill him. Yaochi’s sword snaps against Gungun’s neck; samadhi true fire and repeated lightning strikes also fail to harm him.
• The Demon Sages Guiche and Ji Meng arrive with a large army and offer Yaochi the Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade, hoping to use Haotian and Yaochi to eliminate Gungun. Haotian agrees to cooperate, aware he cannot afford another powerful enemy.
• Before Yaochi can use the blade, Gungun invokes the law of silence, freezing her. He reveals that the Haotian Mirror never truly restrained him, takes the gourd containing the blade, and punches Yaochi into Chaos.
• Guiche and Ji Meng prepare to attack but withdraw when Bai Ze orders them back. Gungun approaches the helpless Haotian and explains that the Black Tortoise Water-Control Banner makes him immune to spells.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun remains playful and confident while demonstrating overwhelming strength and hidden defenses. He lets Haotian believe the mirror has trapped him, then turns the situation around.
• Haotian shifts from confidence to desperation. He relies on Yaochi and the Demon Race, but his options collapse when neither their attacks nor their alliance can defeat Gungun.
• Yaochi acts out of loyalty to Haotian, despite her doubts about killing Gungun in front of witnesses. Her weapons and spells fail, and Gungun ultimately removes her from the battle.
• Guiche and Ji Meng seek to exploit Haotian’s predicament, but their contempt for him and their fear of Gungun shape their actions. Bai Ze’s command ends their involvement.
• The spectators’ contrasting reactions—Hou Yi and Xingtian’s confidence in Gungun versus other observers’ shock—underscore how badly Haotian has misjudged the fight.

Significant themes

• Strength versus status: Haotian’s rank, powerful treasures, and quasi-saint cultivation cannot compensate for Gungun’s superior physical power and defenses.
• Loyalty and desperation: Yaochi risks herself to save Haotian, while Haotian’s alliances are driven largely by necessity and resentment.
• Political opportunism and mistrust: The Demon Race offers help only to advance its own goals, and Haotian’s enemies remain wary of one another.
• Hidden capability and overconfidence: Haotian mistakes Gungun’s apparent immobility for genuine vulnerability, allowing Gungun to control the encounter.

Plot points and events

• Gungun defeats Haotian and Jade Pool, revealing that its apparent helplessness was a ruse. The Black Tortoise Water-Control Banner had protected it from Haotian’s immobilizing power; Gungun also takes the Demon Race’s Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade gourd.
• After Haotian is destroyed and Jade Pool is struck into Chaos, Gungun proclaims itself Heavenly Emperor before the assembled world and returns to the Heavenly Court.
• The Saints are astonished that Gungun possessed the long-missing banner. Houtu explains that Gungun supposedly found it inside a boulder when it sat down to eat. The account is true as far as she knows, but Gungun had actually sealed the banner in the rock long ago and simply remembered it later.
• Gungun’s victory shifts the balance of power: neutral factions send envoys to submit to the Heavenly Court, while the Demon Race begins losing members who fear retaliation from the Witch Race and no longer wish to follow Crown Prince Lu Ya.
• Houtu leaves to send Haotian’s and Donghua’s Primordial Spirits into Human reincarnation.
• At Laozi’s request, Gungun visits Great Clarity Palace. Laozi thanks it for its efforts and gives it thirty-six Ginseng Fruits on behalf of Zhen Yuanzi—an apparent political bribe.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun demonstrates that its confidence rests on concealed preparation as much as strength. It stages the banner’s “discovery” to avoid questions about its hidden treasures, while publicly asserting its new authority.
• Houtu defends Gungun’s good fortune to the Saints and later takes responsibility for Haotian’s and Donghua’s reincarnation.
• The Saints react with envy and disbelief at Gungun’s seemingly limitless luck and collection of treasures. Tongtian especially wonders how to reproduce its good fortune and regrets not recruiting it into Jiejiao.
• Laozi treats Gungun with respect and acts as intermediary for Zhen Yuanzi’s gift; Gungun immediately recognizes the gift’s political purpose.
• The Demon Race becomes increasingly divided as its members reconsider their allegiance.

Significant themes

• Hidden strength and strategic deception: Gungun’s apparent vulnerability conceals both a powerful treasure and a carefully managed story about its origins.
• Luck, fate, and manipulation: Others attribute Gungun’s success to extraordinary blessings, though its “coincidences” are sometimes arranged.
• Power reshapes allegiance: Gungun’s victory strengthens the Heavenly Court and weakens the Demon Race, prompting factions to reconsider where they belong.
• Politics through gifts: Zhen Yuanzi’s Ginseng Fruits show that influence can be pursued through seemingly generous offerings.

Plot points and events

• Gungun receives thirty-six Ginseng Fruits from Zhen Yuanzi, understanding that they are meant to secure his help for Shennong. He insists he is acting for Laozi, not for the gifts, before accepting them with Laozi’s approval.
• Laozi asks Gungun to become Shennong’s teacher and help him become a Human Emperor. Gungun refuses the formal role, explaining that he is already Chi You’s teacher and that taking Shennong as a disciple could offend Houtu and Ao Yue. Laozi instead asks him to help informally.
• Gungun agrees, despite recognizing the political complications. Laozi rewards him in advance with the Earth-Separating Flameglow Banner, an exceptionally valuable Innate Five-Direction Flag. Gungun’s solemn vow to help Shennong promptly gives way to exuberant gratitude.
• Laozi hints that Shennong’s rise may help him perfect his Golden Core Great Way. Zhen Yuanzi later confirms that Laozi is pursuing his own Dao, not simply repaying a personal debt to Red Cloud.
• On his way to aid Shennong, Gungun is summoned by Jieyin and Zhunti, who independently give him the same mission. He concludes that Shennong has support from three Saints, though his path remains unusually difficult.
• Gungun arrives at the Yellow River, where the Youxiong Tribe has surrounded the displaced Lieshan Tribe. Xuandu cannot intervene effectively, so Shennong appears close to defeat. Gungun possesses Shennong’s body and boldly declares that he will fight Xuanyuan again—leaving the elders bewildered.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun balances political caution with opportunism: he declines discipleship to avoid conflict, but accepts the rescue mission and its lavish reward. His composure repeatedly collapses when valuable treasures are offered.
• Laozi trusts Gungun as the most capable mediator and helper, and reveals that assisting Shennong also advances his own cultivation.
• Shennong/Red Cloud remains beset by repeated defeats and loss of authority, but now has powerful backing from Laozi, Jieyin, and Zhunti.
• Gungun and Laozi negotiate the limits of Gungun’s involvement; Gungun and the Western Saints share the same objective; and Gungun’s sudden takeover of Shennong’s body shocks the Lieshan elders.

Significant themes

• Political alliances and intervention: Helping Shennong means navigating competing powers, not simply winning battles.
• Fortune and hardship: Despite extraordinary support, Shennong’s repeated misfortunes keep delaying his rise.
• Self-interest and duty: Laozi’s aid serves his spiritual ambitions, while Gungun’s loyalty is strengthened by an immense reward.
• Comic contrast: Gungun’s grand claims of dignity and principle are undercut by his obvious delight in treasures—and his dramatic, reckless entrance into the conflict.

Key plot points and events

• Gungun, possessing Shennong, orders the Lieshan Tribe to challenge Xuanyuan rather than surrender. The elders assume their leader has gone mad and expect the challenge to end in the tribe’s destruction.
• Xuanyuan, who has surrounded Lieshan, had hoped Shennong would surrender so he could avoid the difficulty of dealing with the former Human Race Co-ruler. The challenge frustrates him, and he decides to face Shennong personally.
• Both tribes assemble for battle. The Youxiong army is far better equipped and stronger than the ragged, demoralized Lieshan forces.
• Xuanyuan arrives riding the winged dragon Yinglong. Gungun, riding a Demon Tiger, grandly claims Shennong’s authority and taunts Xuanyuan. Xuanyuan laughs, then orders the fight to begin. Yinglong charges, and Gungun leaps up to meet him with his saber.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun/Shennong: Gungun’s confidence and boastfulness replace the despair Shennong had shown earlier. He treats the impending battle as an opportunity to demonstrate his own superiority, even as he privately compares the tribes’ armies and mounts.
• The Lieshan elders: They are defeated in spirit and believe the challenge is effectively a decision to die in battle. They do not oppose Gungun’s orders, but follow him onto the field.
• Xuanyuan: He is confident that Lieshan is beaten, yet recognizes the political and moral complications of capturing or killing Shennong. When challenged, his restraint gives way to anger over past losses, and he resolves to take Shennong himself.
• The opposing leaders: Gungun’s exaggerated threats bewilder and amuse Xuanyuan; their exchange turns into a direct confrontation. Xuanyuan’s superior dragon mount also fuels Gungun’s competitive irritation.

Significant themes

• Legitimacy and power: Xuanyuan’s military advantage does not erase the political weight of Shennong’s status as former Co-ruler.
• Pride and self-deception: Gungun boasts despite the overwhelming disparity between the armies, while the Lieshan elders see the battle as doomed.
• Military inequality: The contrast between Youxiong’s disciplined, well-equipped forces and Lieshan’s poorly supplied, demoralized troops underscores how precarious Lieshan’s position has become.

Key plot points and events

• During the battle between the Lieshan and Youxiong tribes, Gungun—secretly controlling Shennong’s body—faces Xuanyuan and Yinglong.
• Xuanyuan’s powerful sword breaks Gungun’s saber, but Gungun counters with three Martial Dao punches. The first two repel Xuanyuan and Yinglong and disperse Yinglong’s fire attack; the third sends both men flying from the battlefield.
• “Shennong” orders the Lieshan army to advance. With their leaders defeated and their morale shattered, the Youxiong troops lose their first battle.
• Later, Yinglong reports the strange defeat to his master, Tongtian. Tongtian reasons through which powerful beings might have impersonated Shennong and concludes—incorrectly—that it must be Soaring Serpent.
• Nuwa angrily rejects Tongtian’s accusation, tells him to ask Laozi if he wants the truth, and cuts off their communication twice.

Character developments

• Gungun: Reveals startling strength and confidence while inhabiting Shennong’s body. He turns a dire battle into a decisive victory and relishes his triumph.
• Xuanyuan and Yinglong: Their defeat undermines their standing and exposes how little they understand about the mysterious opponent. Yinglong suspects “Shennong” is an impostor but cannot identify him.
• Tongtian: Displays confidence in his own deductions, but his elaborate elimination of possible suspects leads him to the wrong conclusion.
• Nuwa: Shows exasperation with Tongtian’s certainty and directs him toward Laozi, suggesting she knows the real answer.

Significant themes

• Appearances and hidden identity: The figure in Shennong’s body is not acting or fighting like the Shennong Yinglong remembers, yet even Yinglong’s divine vision cannot identify the intruder.
• Power and morale: Gungun’s overwhelming display changes the battle’s outcome, while Xuanyuan and Yinglong’s defeat collapses the Youxiong army’s confidence.
• Overconfidence and faulty reasoning: Tongtian’s careful-sounding analysis is undermined by his mistaken conclusion.
• Comic reversal: The chapter pairs a dramatic battlefield rout with Gungun’s boastful antics and Nuwa’s blunt, furious dismissal of Tongtian.

Plot and events

• After Nuwa ends their previous communication, Tongtian asks Laozi to identify the mysterious figure who impersonated Shennong and defeated Tongtian’s disciple Yinglong. Tongtian suspects Soaring Serpent, but Laozi refuses to call the figure a “bastard” and describes him as a benevolent, blessed immortal.
• Laozi confronts Tongtian and Yuanshi for supporting rival candidates: Tongtian backed Xuanyuan through Yinglong, while Yuanshi backed Chi You through Nine Li. Both claim their chosen leaders acted independently.
• Tongtian and Yuanshi argue that Shennong is unfit to become Human Emperor, but Laozi defends him and criticizes Xuanyuan’s ruthless warmaking and Chi You’s mixed heritage. He proposes that Shennong, Xuanyuan, and Chi You compete for the remaining two seats, with the Three Pure Ones pledging not to interfere further.
• Before the oath is completed, Gungun interrupts with a report to Laozi. He reveals that he possessed Shennong’s body and plans to defeat Xuanyuan and Chi You, unite the tribes, win victories over the Dragon and Demon races, and use his influence as Heavenly and Netherworld Emperor to secure prosperity and longer lives for Shennong’s followers. He believes this will build enough support for Shennong to become Human Emperor.
• Tongtian realizes the mysterious fighter was Gungun, not Soaring Serpent. He tells Yinglong to stop trying to defeat Shennong and focus on helping Xuanyuan compete for the final seat. Laozi later confirms that he gave Gungun the Earth-Separating Flameglow Banner, though he says Gungun devised his plan himself.

Character developments and interactions

• Tongtian shifts from confident indignation to shock when he learns Gungun was behind the defeat of Yinglong. He is also suspicious of Laozi’s motives and jealous that the banner was given to Gungun.
• Laozi acts as mediator and defender of Shennong, reproving his brothers’ political meddling. He gives up his right to appoint the next Human Emperor so the candidates can compete, while maintaining that he did not direct Gungun’s elaborate strategy.
• Yuanshi supports Chi You and initially backs Tongtian’s arguments against Shennong, but ultimately agrees to Laozi’s noninterference pact.
• Gungun emerges as an energetic, overconfident strategist whose loyalty to Shennong is expressed through an ambitious mix of military action, political authority, and public welfare.
• Yinglong learns that his opponent was Gungun and accepts Tongtian’s revised orders.

Significant themes

• Power and political interference: The Saints’ competing patronage threatens to shape the Human Emperor succession, prompting Laozi to demand that they step back.
• Virtue versus conquest: Laozi contrasts Shennong’s benevolence and service with Xuanyuan’s militarism, while Gungun’s plan mixes force with tangible benefits for the people.
• Merit, legitimacy, and identity: The dispute over who qualifies as Human Emperor involves both a candidate’s character and Chi You’s mixed heritage.
• Comic irony and unintended consequences: The Saints’ serious debate is upended by Gungun’s exuberant report, which reveals that Laozi’s favored candidate is being advanced by a surprisingly aggressive—and self-directed—campaign.

Key plot points and events

• Yuanshi and Tongtian learn that Gungun is possessing Shennong and helping him win the Human Emperor contest. They recognize that his victories and good deeds could make Shennong’s claim to the throne nearly unassailable.
• Houtu summons Gungun to the Netherworld and learns that Laozi gave him the Earth-Separating Flameglow Banner in exchange for helping Shennong. She confiscates the treasure, explaining that she is taking responsibility for Gungun’s obligation to Laozi and will return it once the task is done.
• Houtu assigns Gungun a new duty: arrange an annual opening of the Ghost Gate so eligible ghosts can visit their families and receive incense offerings, while ensuring none cause trouble. Gungun protests that the task is impractical and complains about his responsibilities as Netherworld Emperor.
• The system rewards his refusal to work with increased abilities, points, and an answer sheet. The sheet is written in simplified Chinese, prompting Gungun to recall his former life. Its contents give him a solution to the Ghost Gate problem.
• Back in the Lieshan Tribe, Gungun re-enters Shennong’s body, suppresses Red Cloud’s spirit, and takes control. Shennong explains away the elders’ memories of his previous day’s victory, then orders another challenge to Xuanyuan.
• Gungun tells the elders that he has become sworn brothers with the Heavenly Emperor—himself—and announces the Ghost Gate’s opening on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. He directs the Human Race to seek guidance from the immortals Shentu and Yulei on Peachstop Mountain.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun remains powerful but reluctant to shoulder responsibility. He accepts Houtu’s explanation about the banner, then resents being given another difficult assignment. The system’s answer sheet gives him renewed confidence and a practical plan.
• Houtu balances authority with humor: she takes the banner to manage Gungun’s debt, then delegates the Ghost Gate task because she considers the yearly work beneath her after her immense contribution to reincarnation.
• Shennong and Gungun are increasingly entangled: Gungun’s possession lets Shennong benefit from victories he cannot remember, while the bewildered elders struggle to make sense of his abrupt shifts in behavior.
• The elders move from concern over Shennong’s memory to alarm at his claims of meeting the Heavenly Emperor, then are left stunned by his account of becoming Gungun’s sworn brother.

Significant themes

• Responsibility versus avoidance: Gungun repeatedly resists duties, but his status as Netherworld Emperor keeps drawing him into consequential work.
• Credit, merit, and legitimacy: Gungun’s actions may secure Shennong’s political success, raising the question of who truly deserves recognition.
• Humor through divine bureaucracy: Even cosmic affairs—debts, annual observances, and public safety—are treated as administrative burdens.
• Cross-life identity and memory: The modern-script answer sheet reconnects Gungun with his former life and provides an unexpected bridge between worlds.

Plot points and events

• After the elders leave, Gungun reviews a system-provided plan to protect people from Houtu’s annual release of ghosts. It calls for appointing Shentu and Yulei as door gods, using peachwood talismans, and keeping people indoors after dark on the day the Ghost Gate opens.
• Gungun sends Xiong Yuan a decree for the acquired races and schedules the opening for the fifteenth day of the seventh month—unknowingly establishing the date later associated with the Ghost Festival.
• While possessing Shennong, Gungun continues unifying the Human Race. Shennong defeats Xuanyuan again but lets him go, giving him two months to challenge again before Shennong stops holding back.
• Frustrated and humiliated, Xuanyuan seeks help from the Iron-Eating Beasts, longtime allies of the Youxiong Tribe. They give him a Dragon Pearl that will greatly increase his power, but warn him to accept the result: if he still loses, he must support Shennong for the Human Race’s sake.
• The beasts’ meeting with Xuanyuan was arranged by Ao Yue, the Dragon Pearl’s owner, who explains that the Shangqing Saint asked him to strengthen Xuanyuan. Afterward, Ao Yue returns to the Heavenly Court.

Character developments and interactions

• Gungun remains pragmatic, choosing the recommended door gods and using a clear, simple plan to address the ghost threat. It also advances Shennong’s campaign to unite humanity.
• Xuanyuan shifts from bewilderment and anger toward seeking power, but remains modest about his ambitions, saying he would be content to succeed Chief Yi. He accepts the Dragon Pearl and the beasts’ conditions.
• Yinglong supports Xuanyuan and praises Ao Yue’s immense strength, while privately believing Xuanyuan is destined to become the final Human Emperor.
• The Iron-Eating Beasts aid Xuanyuan but emphasize that he must put humanity’s welfare above rivalry.
• Ao Yue cooperates with the plan to empower Xuanyuan, treating the Dragon Pearl as an extension of himself.

Significant themes

• Destiny and human choice: The Dragon Pearl’s test will determine whether Xuanyuan continues competing with Shennong or supports him.
• Unity over personal ambition: Xuanyuan is urged to put the Human Race’s future first.
• Origins of custom: Gungun’s practical preparations for the ghost release inadvertently establish the Ghost Festival date.
• Hidden identities and power: Xuanyuan does not know Gungun is controlling Shennong, nor that Ao Yue arranged the gift.

Plot and events

• Yinglong brings Xuanyuan back to the Youxiong camp, determined to help him become a Human Emperor. He believes the resulting providence could strengthen Xuanyuan, his brother, and the Dragon Race.
• In the Lieshan camp, Gungun learns that Ao Yue gave Xuanyuan his Dragon Pearl. Reassured that it will take Xuanyuan years to absorb its power, Gungun orders Chi You to challenge Shennong, then feign defeat and submit—leaving Chi You free to compete for a later imperial position.
• Gungun prepares the Eight-Trigram Dragon-Locking Well and Dragon-Slaying Saber, intent on avoiding another defeat caused by inferior equipment.
• Seven days later, Xuanyuan challenges Shennong. Though the Dragon Pearl has made him much more powerful, his lack of skill and divine abilities leaves him outmatched. Gungun breaks Xuanyuan’s sword, knocks him down, and traps him in the Dragon-Locking Well.
• Gungun urges Xuanyuan to accept the result as Heaven’s will and submit to Shennong. Before Xuanyuan answers, a Heavenly Court envoy arrives with an imperial decree, frees him, and formally appoints both men: Shennong as the Flame Emperor and Xuanyuan as the Yellow Emperor. Shennong remains Human Co-ruler, while Xuanyuan is ordered to assist him in ending the wars.

Character developments and interactions

• Yinglong becomes intensely committed to Xuanyuan’s rise, seeing it as a route to power and prosperity for his family and clan.
• Gungun displays confidence and political calculation: he expects Chi You to obey because Chi You still has a chance at a later title. In battle, he proves that raw power alone cannot overcome experience, technique, and superior weapons.
• Xuanyuan grows stronger through the Dragon Pearl but is humbled by defeat. His frustration gives way to surprise when the decree names him Yellow Emperor.
• Shennong, through Gungun’s possession, invokes Heaven’s authority to press Xuanyuan to submit. The decree then confirms Shennong’s continued leadership while assigning Xuanyuan a role beside him.
• The Heavenly Court’s decree settles the leadership question without a decisive military victory, bringing former rivals into a shared political arrangement.

Significant themes

• Power versus mastery: Xuanyuan’s increased magic power is not enough without skill or divine techniques.
• Providence and ambition: Characters seek imperial titles not only for themselves but for the power and status their appointments could bring their clans.
• Political strategy and authority: Gungun manages Chi You’s ambitions, while the Heavenly Emperor’s decree reshapes the contest and legitimizes its outcome.
• Rivalry turned toward cooperation: Shennong and Xuanyuan are directed to work together to reunify the Human Race and end its wars.

Key plot points and events

• Two Iron-Eating Beasts arrive on the Heavenly Emperor’s orders and forcibly take Yi to the Heavenly Court, where he is to become Fate Star Lord. Yi protests that he is still alive and has unfinished ambitions, but the Youxiong people cheer his appointment.
• Xuanyuan replaces Yi as chief of the Youxiong Tribe. Under Gungun’s decree, the tribe again recognizes Shennong as Human Race Co-ruler, ending the Ji–Jiang conflict and establishing the Yan-Huang Alliance.
• Chi You’s attempt to win the Nuwa Tribe’s support fails. He backs down when Soaring Serpent threatens him with Nuwa’s powerful Red Marriage Ball.
• Gungun then orders Chi You to challenge Shennong, lose deliberately, and use the result as a pretext to submit to him. Angry but persuaded by his brother Nine Li to obey, Chi You accepts.
• At Mount Tai, Chi You and Shennong begin their duel before the Human Race. Chi You rejects the idea of genuinely losing, claiming he will publicly concede afterward but first defeat Shennong in private. He destroys the battlefield with his power and launches a fierce attack. Gungun, possessing Shennong’s body, barely dodges the opening punch and is forced onto the defensive.

Character developments

• Yi is reluctant to leave his tribe and clings to ambitions of becoming Human Sovereign and perhaps Human Emperor, but is powerless against the Heavenly Court’s summons.
• Xuanyuan rises to leadership of the Youxiong Tribe and helps bring the tribe back into alliance with Shennong.
• Chi You shows both resentment toward Gungun’s orders and pride in his own strength: he agrees to follow the plan publicly but refuses to be humiliated by actually losing.
• Gungun, acting through Shennong, expects Chi You to cooperate with the planned loss and is caught off guard when Chi You attacks in earnest.
• Nine Li takes a measured, dutiful role, urging Chi You to trust his uncle’s intentions and follow the decree.

Significant themes

• Duty versus personal ambition: Yi’s hopes for power and unfinished work clash with the Heavenly Court’s decision to appoint him.
• Power and political maneuvering: Alliances, appointments, threats, and staged contests shape the struggle over Human leadership.
• Obedience versus pride: Chi You accepts Gungun’s plan in principle but lets his pride drive him to challenge Shennong seriously.
• The gap between appearance and reality: The duel is meant to produce a political outcome, but Chi You’s real intentions turn it into a genuine fight.

Character interactions

• The Youxiong people warmly congratulate Yi even as he is forcibly carried away, showing their support for his appointment and for Xuanyuan’s succession.
• Soaring Serpent’s threat prevents Chi You from coercing the Nuwa Tribe, demonstrating how a powerful artifact can restrain a stronger opponent.
• Nine Li tries to temper Chi You’s anger and secure his cooperation with Gungun.
• In the duel, Chi You’s unexpected aggression forces Gungun—inside Shennong—to abandon the planned performance and fight defensively.